FID

FIT

FOB

FP

FPCC

FSU

Former Soviet Union

FYP

five-year plan

Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis

catalytic production process for the production of synthetic fuels. Natural gas, coal and biomass feedstocks can be used.

fission

a reaction when the nucleus of an atom, having captured a neutron, splits into two or more nuclei, and in so doing, releases a significant amount of energy as well as more neutrons. These neutrons then go on to split more nuclei and a chain reaction takes place.

flex fuel

a vehicle that has one fuel system but can mix different types of fuels, such as gasoline/ethanol, in the same tank, in any (or a wide range of) mixtures.

fuel cell models

convert hydrogen into electricity using a fuel cell system. Hydrogen is typically stored on-board the vehicle for conversion, so these need not be plug-in vehicles. However, it appears likely that plug-in hybrid type fuel cell vehicles – with batteries and a fuel cell system instead of an internal combustion engine – may be an optimal configuration, and thus they would be plug-in vehicles.

fusion

a process in which nuclei collide and join together to form a heavier atom. When this happens a considerable amount of energy gets released. (This is what takes place at the core of the Sun.)